🌿 PlantWise
Plant Guide

Best Plants for Memphis, Tennessee

📍 Memphis, TN 🌡️ USDA Zone 7b 🌱 348+ compatible plants

Gardening in Memphis

Memphis falls in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b, which means your plants need to survive winters with minimum temperatures in the 0°F to 10°F range. The 348+ plants below are proven performers for your zone — including deer-resistant varieties, pet-friendly options, and pollinator-attracting species.

Top Plant Picks for Memphis

Blazing Star
Blazing Star
Liatris spicata
Vibrant purple blooms burst in late summer, creating stunning vertical spikes that brighten any garden. This drought-tolerant perennial attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 3-9.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Peony
Peony
Paeonia lactiflora
Lush, fragrant blooms in shades of pink and white brighten late spring gardens with stunning color. Deer resistant and thriving in USDA zones 3-8, this low-maintenance beauty attracts pollinators effortlessly.
Zone 3–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Honeycrisp Apple Tree
Honeycrisp Apple Tree
Malus domestica 'Honeycrisp'
Showcasing stunning pink and white blooms in spring, this Honeycrisp Apple Tree brightens any garden from April to May. Thriving in USDA zones 4-9, it attracts pollinators while producing delicious fruit with medium care.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum Dragon's Blood
Sedum spurium 'Dragon's Blood'
Vibrant pink and white blooms from June to September add striking color to any sunny garden with evergreen foliage year-round. This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant groundcover attracts pollinators and thrives in USDA zones 4-9.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
River Birch
River Birch
Betula nigra
Graceful, peeling bark and delicate catkins add year-round interest to landscapes, especially stunning in spring and fall. This low-maintenance tree thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and tolerates wet soils and occasional flooding.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia Grass
Zoysia japonica
A dense, slow-growing warm-season grass that forms a thick carpet resistant to weeds, drought, and foot traffic. Excellent for families with dogs.
Zone 6–11🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Spiderwort
Spiderwort
Tradescantia ohiensis
Vibrant blue-purple blooms brighten late spring to early summer, creating a stunning, naturalized look. This low-maintenance perennial thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and is deer resistant.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator
Mountain Laurel
Mountain Laurel
Kalmia latifolia
Clusters of star-shaped pink and white blooms light up late spring with stunning color and unique form. This deer-resistant evergreen thrives in USDA zones 4-9 and attracts pollinators.
Zone 4–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Limelight Prime Panicle Hydrangea
Limelight Prime Panicle Hydrangea
Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight Prime'
Vibrant pink-to-white blooms from June to September light up gardens with a stunning summer display. This low-maintenance shrub thrives in zones 4-9, attracting pollinators while tolerating sun or part shade.
Zone 4–9🐝 Pollinator
Pieris
Pieris
Pieris japonica
Clusters of bell-shaped white to pink blooms brighten early spring with elegant charm. This evergreen shrub is deer resistant, low maintenance, and thrives in USDA zones 5-8.
Zone 5–8🦌 Deer-Resistant🐝 Pollinator
Sideoats Grama
Sideoats Grama
Bouteloua curtipendula
Golden oat-like blooms sway gracefully in late summer, adding warm color and texture to any garden. This drought-tolerant, deer-resistant grass thrives in USDA zones 4-9, attracting beneficial pollinators.
Zone 3–9🦌 Deer-Resistant🐾 Pet-Friendly†
Shagbark Hickory
Shagbark Hickory
Carya ovata
Greenish-yellow blooms appear in late spring, adding subtle beauty to this majestic native tree. Attracting pollinators and thriving in zones 4-9, it’s low maintenance and pet-friendly.
Zone 4–9🐾 Pet-Friendly†🐝 Pollinator

Get a Personalized Plant List for Memphis

Answer 4 quick questions about your yard — sun, soil, deer pressure, and pet situation — and get a custom list of plants that will thrive in Zone 7b.

Start the Plant Advisor →

Other Cities in Zone 7b

New York, NY Philadelphia, PA Nashville, TN Oklahoma City, OK Washington, DC Baltimore, MD Albuquerque, NM Raleigh, NC Tulsa, OK

Browse All 348+ Plants for Zone 7b

The 12 picks above are a sample. Use the full directory to filter by sun, water, deer resistance, and more.

View All Zone 7 Plants →

† "Pet-friendly" means not listed as toxic by ASPCA for dogs and/or cats. Always supervise pets around plants. ASPCA Animal Poison Control: (888) 426-4435.